An expected energy shortage has pressed Shanghai into forcing more than 3,000 companies to give a weeklong holiday to their employees this summer to save power.

Seven separate batches of companies would be required to grant their workers a seven-day holiday between July 11 and Aug. 26, a spokesman for the Shanghai Economic Commission said.

The government has suggested companies use the period to carry out maintenance.

'Shanghai, in principle, has requested all industrial enterprises to participate in staggered rest over the summer,' the spokesman said, but the government was still not sure of the exact number.

Companies unable to halt production or those making seasonal goods might be allowed to make adjustments. Companies had started lobbying to be left off the list, officials said.

The city has ordered another 400 to 500 companies, seen as high-energy consumers or heavy polluters, to reduce peak-hour power use for three months by switching production to evenings to even shutting down entirely.

Experts have forecast that Shanghai will suffer a 2,000-megawatt power shortage during peak periods this summer, based on total demand of 19,000 megawatts. The situation would not improve until next year, when power supply capacity would be increased, they said.

2005/03/25
Source: Eastday.com